On February 28, 2006 at 11:00 a.m. eastern time, James Perry, Executive Director of the Greater New Orleans Fair Housing Action Center (GNOFHAC) will testify before the House of Representatives Subcommittee for Housing and Equal Opportunity in Washington D.C. Perry’s appearance was requested by Republican Chairman Bob Ney and ranking Democratic Member, Maxine Waters as a result of concerns raised by Perry during his January 13, 2006 testimony before the same Subcommittee in New Orleans, Louisiana. Subcommittee members were particularly concerned about discriminatory advertising on five websites established to assist hurricane evacuees.
In his January 13th testimony, Perry quoted the following from Katrinahousing.org advertisements:

“I would love to house a single mom with one child, not racist but white only;”

“Not to sound racist but because we want to make things more understandable for our younger child we would like to house white children;”

“Room available to single white mother with child or younger to middle aged white couple.”

Since discovering the ads, GNOFHAC has filed complaints against the five websites that carried them.
Perry remarked, “I am happy that Chairmen Ney and Representative Waters have taken the lead on this issue. Through their leadership, I am hopeful that we can ensure that victims of future natural disasters won’t be forced to forfeit crucial housing opportunities because of the color of their skin, their national origin, gender or the fact they have children.”

Greater New Orleans Fair Housing Action Center

The Greater New Orleans Fair Housing Action Center (GNOFHAC) is a nonprofit civil rights organization established in 1995 to eradicate housing discrimination. GNOFHAC’s work throughout Louisiana includes education, investigation and enforcement activities. GNOFHAC is dedicated to fighting housing discrimination because it is an illegal and divisive force that perpetuates poverty, segregation, ignorance, fear and hatred.